Welcome to April 2020! Approaching Palm Sunday, we encounter the Lion of Judah in this week’s Scriptures.  I start with the Gospels, then continue with the books of Acts and Romans.

I pray you are thriving in the Lord and Holy Spirit in this novel situation. If you need a connection to an on-line sermon, our church can be found at: http://www.airportchristianfellowship.org

^{Matthew 5:7} Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

From the Sermon on the Mount; Jesus stressed the fact that if we are not merciful to others, God can’t give mercy to us.

^{Mark 5:7} And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”

The boat carrying Jesus and His disciples across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. The demons inside the wild man living among the tombs cried out because they knew who Jesus was and did not want to leave the territory they were given by Satan.

^{Luke 5:7} So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

Simon Peter had fished all day. Jesus commandeered his fishing boat to go out into the lake because the crowds were pressing in on Him. Peter knew Jesus had some kind of authority, so he did what He told him to do. Not expecting any fish, he threw out one net that was quickly filled to overflowing. This miracle caused Simon Peter to leave his boat and follow Jesus!

^{John 5:7} The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

This sick man didn’t realize who Jesus was. He thought he might help him be first in the water, but didn’t realize Jesus could heal without the angel. Most in Jesus’ day did not realize God was in their midst in human form. Don’t many of us fall into this same scenario?

^{Acts 5:7} Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

After the Holy Spirit fell and the disciples were living in community sharing their resources, this is the account of Ananias and Sapphira not telling the truth about money they were donating. I guess they thought they were deceiving the Apostles, but it was God the Holy Spirit! Both were struck dead. Remember 2 Samuel 6 when they were bringing the Ark of the Covenant home on the ox cart instead of carrying it on poles by the Priests (as God commanded)? Uzzah reached out a hand to steady the cart, aroused God’s anger and was struck dead. Two lessons about the holiness of God and encounters between Holiness and unrighteousness.

^{Romans 5:7} For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

Apostle Paul was explaining what a big deal it was that Jesus died for unclean sinners. You might be willing to die for a righteous person, or a good man, but would you choose to die for a vile sinner?

I am so thankful  for the grace found in Christ after all the years of sinners trying to get right with God on their own. Have you recently contemplated all you have because Jesus, the Lion of Judah, paid the price? During this Lenten season, let’s take pause to think about the glory of God and His holiness and the gap Christ reconciled through His body between Father God and His children. I pray you find the deep love of God and true Shalom my dear readers.